WHO: Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, Chief of Staff Susan Kang Schroeder, and Erin Runnion, Founder of the Joyful Child Foundation and mother of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion, who was murdered in 2002

WHAT: Will attend the Anaheim City Council meeting tonight to provide an overview of the City Ordinance to create a child safety zone in city parks to further protect children from registered sex offenders and bring the ordinance for council consideration to the scheduled meeting on Oct. 23, 2012.

District Attorney Rackauckas, Chief of Staff Schroeder, and Ms. Runnion will be in attendance supporting the City Ordinance similar to the County Ordinance, which makes it a misdemeanor for registered sex offenders to enter County recreational areas where children regularly gather. Between May 2011 and May 2012, the Cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, La Habra, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Westminster, and Yorba Linda passed similar ordinances, and other cities are currently in the process of developing a similar ordinance

To read the full County Ordinance, please select the April 5, 2011, press release titled “Orange County Board of Supervisors Unanimously Votes to Adopt New Law to Keep Registered Sex Offenders Out of Parks, Harbors, Beaches and Playgrounds,” under Press Releases/Media Advisories at www.orangecountyda.com

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY MEDIA ADVISORY TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

One thought on “New City of Anaheim ordinance to keep sex offenders out of city parks”

I find it troubling that those pushing these laws aren’t concerned in the least about the registrant’s children and their rights of having their parents with them as protection. Children often fall and get hurt in parks and beaches. Isn’t it every parent’s right to have the choice to be with their children in public places? To mandate a law that excludes any parent from being their child’s first line of protection in a public place is the highest of violations against the child and the parent. Where are we in pre-1945 Germany? It was mentioned that the sheriff’s department was tasked to give out waivers. Really? Why would a law enforcement agency give a registered sex offender a pass to break the law? It would be a violation of their oath to enforce the law and remiss of their position. Even the sheriff went on record stating she doesn’t see any reason why she would give such a waiver. Truth.